Songbird Challenges Seabirds and Flyway Establishment

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Think Ocean migrations and images of ocean giants swimming the depths come to mind... but above ocean waters there is an entirely unique ocean environment.  When when one thinks about airborne ocean migration the birds which come to mind are also oceanic classics such as the majestic Albatross and its wide wingspan. But now a new study published at Biology Letters revealed the migration of a tiny songbird which weighing only 12 grams has challenged the established science on seabirds and transatlantic migration flyways.

Air, the lower atmosphere which caresses the ocean surface is not only home to unique range of ocean life but key to natural cycles which dominate life as we know it on Earth. In this air element, this environment, this realm, this kingdom is ruled by oceanic birds the Blackpoll Warbler takes on its magical 3 day non-stop flight.

On April 1st International Press reported on the small Blackpoll Warbler and its inspìring flight above thousands of miles Atlantic Ocean waters. Scientists described the migration as one of the most “incredible migrations known”. 

The team of ornithologists -bird experts, led by William DeLuca of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, concluded that the blackpoll warbler (Setophaga striata) can execute every autumn a Trans-Atlantic migration spanning as far as 2.2 to 2.7 kilometers. The small bird does this taking on a 2 to 3 day non-stop flight.

It is the first time that scientific evidence has been acquired for the endeavour which the small songbird takes on. The bird is known to breed across Alaska and North-Central Canada as well as in lower numbers in Southeastern Canada. Isolated populations have been sighted in New England and even New York. To discard other North American breeding locations is discouraged. 

There are not many birds which take on Trans-Atlantic migration and the blackpoll warblers fly non-stop from North America to Puerto Rico US,  the Lesser Antilles Carribbean and northern South America.

Caribbean press assured that the bird strategy of the bird is a “Fly or Die” 3000 thousand kilometer voyage strategy crossing the breathtaking environments created by the Atlantic Ocean and its coastal basins. From the cold and murky waters of North America to the transparent, translucent waters of the Caribbean the tiny bird sure sees much of the ocean´s beauty. 

To understand how the small songbird has challenged established science on evolution, seabirds, Atlantic Flyways and other issues one needs to have a knowledge of the issues involved. Full listings of birds found in North America released by organizations such as the American Ornithologists Union reveal the numerous species which live in the environment. Birds of North America are not only numerous but together safeguard one of the richest biological biodiversity of the “air-world” of birds. 

From Anseriformes to Falconiformes to Apodiformes to Passeriformes and others there hundreds species belonging to over 20 Orders which master the airways of the North American continent. But some don't stop there and take on through Flyways expansion evolution tactics.  

The small songbird also challenged the established terms of what is known as a “seabird”. While there are also hundreds of established seabird species there is no single definition of which groups, families and species are seabirds. It is understood that a seabird is a bird which is adapted to life on the marine environment and that is in possession of certain natural abilities. 

Seabirds may vary in diverse aspects but all have -through different routes of time and evolution reached similar adaptations this is known as “convergent evolution” a term coined by Darwin himself. 

Evolution forces shaped seabirds long wings, waterproof feathers, salt resistant organs, habitability to feed in marine habitats, diving abilities, longer life cycles, care for the young and island tributary, and other natural skills empowered usually by morphological and anatomical evolution which allow some seabirds to even take on long migration routes across the ocean or circumnavigate the entire world. Navigation skills, orientation, buoyancy and guidance natural systems are among the most impressive highlights of seabirds abilities.  Seabirds have also learnt to hunt and feed in sea environments, following fish stocks and plankton movements and interacting with the entire ocean environment which includes human fishery.

Of all these abilities gifted by evolution to seabirds characteristics the small songbird Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) shares...that is right...almost none. The small songbird does not feed on oceans, does not have a long wingspan, its weight and size is amazingly small, it does not dive and its anatomy is not ocean water fully adapted.

The Warbler also performs what very few birds are known to do. To fly from the North of America to the South. Bird Nature explains that the Atlantic Flyway from North America US territory to Caribbean waters  is undertaken by a small group of birds. Event these birds that undertake the flight usually depart from Florida -a much closer location of departure of that which Warbler undertakes. 

“Routes followed by migratory birds are numerous, and while some of them are simple and easily traced, others are extremely complicated,” Bird Nature concludes. The Atlantic Flyway is linked to historical Pelagic Migrations. 

“A more direct route involving even longer flights lies directly across the Caribbean Sea, but...it is used almost entirely by land birds. After taking off from the coast of Florida, the migrants on this route find only two land masses in their course where they can pause for rest and food. Over 60 species cross the 150 miles from Florida to Cuba, where about half of them remain for the winter,” Bird Nature refers to known Atlantic Flyway Migration species. 

The report and findings of the investigation of the Warbler was released in the Journal Biology Letters. The investigation utilized innovative lightweight tracking device. Five small birds were tagged, tracked and followed during 2013. The paper was released two years after the migration of fall ended. 

Beyond that which the pages of the new paper hide what is known is that the tiny small bird which fits with ease in the palm of a human hand inspired international press and flew across the imagination of the global media. The legendary small bird which takes on the 3 day flight non-stop over the ocean... the visions of Atlantic Ocean flight from Canada to the Caribbean kept to himself.